Pierre Sage got off to a winning start in his first game in charge of Crystal Palace as the Eagles recorded a 5-1 victory over Ian Holloway’s Swindon Town.
A double from Eddie Nketiah and an impressive hat-trick by Matheus Franca were enough for the UEFA Conference League winners to overcome the League Two outfit, although the result was not important on an afternoon where building up match fitness was the priority.
Thoughts on the win over Swindon? 🤔
Joel Drakes-Thomas was absolutely fantastic ⭐️
There were still some intriguing sights to behold nonetheless, and here are three interesting things We Are Palace noticed while watching the game.
Oscar Mingueza could be the anti-Daniel Munoz
Reports from Sky Sports and The Athletic claimed Crystal Palace would use Oscar Mingueza as a right wing-back after signing the Spaniard, and that was proven true as the new arrival assumed that position against Swindon Town.
While Daniel Munoz tends to sprint down the flank and overlap, the Spain international seemingly prefers to do the opposite. Mingueza frequently drifted inside to take up a central role when Crystal Palace attacked the League Two side, which allowed Romain Esse space to take on his man.
That aforementioned story from The Athletic actually mentioned that Mingueza can play as an attacking midfielder if need be, so don’t be surprised to see the 27-year-old pop up regularly in advanced central roles.
Eddie Nketiah looks hungry
Crystal Palace agreed to sell Nketiah to West Ham for £27m in January before a hamstring injury scuppered the deal, and the England international seemed eager to prove that was the wrong decision.
The former Arsenal striker was lively inside the box, scoring the first after doggedly pressing the Swindon backline before then reacting sharply to poke a low cross from Esse into the back of the net.
Nketiah is currently third choice for just one available spot in the lineup behind Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jorgen Strand Larsen, so he will need to maintain this level if the pecking order is to change.
Matheus Franca impresses without his No.11 shirt and could finally be ready
Franca played his first game for Crystal Palace since returning from a disappointing loan spell at Vasco da Gama last season, as Sage handed him 45 minutes of action in the second half.
The Brazilian impressed, notably in a central role rather than out wide, netting his first after reacting sharply to a loose ball and dinking the goalkeeper, before doubling his tally with a penalty and then sealing his hat-trick with another smart finish.
Franca was also wearing the No.27 shirt instead of his old No.11 strip, which Brennan Johnson took in January but recently swapped for the No.23 after Jaydee Canvot changed to the No.6 jersey.
Does Matheus Franca have a future at Crystal Palace? 🇧🇷
It could well suggest that Crystal Palace are saving the No.11 shirt for a new signing.
